A bill to define the affirmative defense of insanity and to provide a procedure for the commitment of offenders suffering from a mental disease or defect, and for other purposes.

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 January 1983

Last action

16 May 1983 · Committee

Status

Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.

Sponsors

Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE], Sen. Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV], Sen. Zorinsky, Edward [D-NE], Sen. Hollings, Ernest F. [D-SC], Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Kasten, Robert W., Jr. [R-WI], Sen. Abdnor, James [R-SD], Sen. East, John P. [R-NC], Sen. Boren, David L. [D-OK], Sen. Goldwater, Barry [R-AZ], Sen. Dole, Robert J. [R-KS], Sen. Huddleston, Walter (Dee) [D-KY], Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA], Sen. D'Amato, Alfonse [R-NY], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA], Sen. Symms, Steven D. [R-ID], Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ], Sen. Tower, John G. [R-TX], Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT], Sen. Humphrey, Gordon J. [R-NH], Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND], Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL], Sen. Long, Russell B. [D-LA], Sen. Pressler, Larry [R-SD], Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT], Sen. Hatfield, Mark O. [R-OR], Sen. Jepsen, Roger W. [R-IA], Sen. Quayle, Dan [R-IN], Sen. Trible, Paul S., Jr. [R-VA], Sen. Cohen, William S. [R-ME], Sen. Baker, Howard H., Jr. [R-TN], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Rudman, Warren [R-NH], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK], Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. Mattingly, Mack [R-GA], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA], Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA]

Subjects

Defence

Source updated

10 August 2026

Defence

Official source View documents Share

Summary

Amends Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to authorize a new plea of "guilty but insane" for any criminal defendant whose actions constitute all necessary elements of the offense charged but who lacks the requisite state of mind as a result of mental disease or defect. Adopts the current notice provisions for a defense of insanity for the new plea of guilty but insane. Provides for determination of a defendant's mental competency to stand trial. Permits the jury or the court in a non-jury trial to find a defendant guilty but insane. Requires the court in any such case to hold a hearing to determine the present mental condition of the convicted person. Directs the court to commit such person to the custody of the Attorney General upon a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that the person is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect as a result of which release would create a substantial danger to himself or to the person or property of another. Directs the Attorney General to release such person to a State which will assume responsibility for his custody and treatment or otherwise to hospitalize such person in a suitable facility. Requires the court to hold a hearing upon the certification by the director of the facility that such person's release will no longer create a substantial danger to himself or the person or property of another. Directs the court to order the discharge of a person who is found to have recovered. Provides for the hospitalization of persons found guilty, imprisoned persons, and persons due for release, who are found to suffer from mental disease or defect.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

26 January 1983
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Source: IntroReferral
26 January 1983
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
2 March 1983
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.
Source: Committee
8 March 1983
Committee
Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Source: Committee
16 May 1983
Committee
Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 26 January 1983
Open at official source

Related records

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Sources

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Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/98th-congress/senate-bill/105
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/98/s/105
us · 98-s-105 · source updated 10 August 2026